The debate around Facebook's policy started
in late 2014, when a contingent of drag queens — performers
who are often more well-known by their stage names than
their legal names — got locked out of their Facebook
accounts after being anonymously reported for not using
"authentic names" on the social media site.

Facebook has maintained that it requires people to use their real
names because it prevents anonymized bullying and stops people
from hiding behind pseudonyms to "harass, scam, or engage in
criminal behavior."

Although Facebook is still "firmly committed"
to making people use authentic names, VP of global
operations, Justin Osofsky posted on the company's blog that it
has held conversations with community leaders and
safety organizations to come to two new improvements to its
system:

"First, we want to reduce the number of people who are
asked to verify their name on Facebook when they are already
using the name people know them by," he writes. "Second, we
want to make it easier for people to confirm their name if
necessary."

Facebook will now require more information about why someone is
reporting another user for their name.

Previously, people could be locked out of their profiles or
forced to change their names if someone anonymously reported
them in a process that required a bare minimum amount of effort
and information. That led to what was seen as malicious targeting
of the transgender and and broader LBGTQ community by people
who simply discriminated against them — it allowed the same kind
of anonymous cyberbullying that the real-name policy professes to
defend against.

"This additional context will help our review teams
better understand why someone is reporting a name, giving them
more information about a specific situation," Facebook
writes.

Facebook

"I’m cautiously optimistic about Facebook’s 'real
names' improvements — they’ve been long time coming and the devil
will be in the details," Lil Miss Hot Mess tells Business Insider
via email. "It’s great that Facebook is finally
taking steps to reduce 'fake name' reporting as a form of
cyberbullying used to silence marginalized
communities."

Facebook's second change is to introduce a tool letting
reported people provide more information about their
circumstances so that the company's review teams can "provide
more personalized support" in helping that person verify their
identity.

"I'm excited that they’re finally
offering users the chance to give more context about
their identities as LGBTQ people, survivors of violence or
bullying, or ethnic minorities, hopefully without the need for
hard 'proof,'" Lil Miss Hot Mess adds.

Facebook

However, the caution coloring her optimism comes in part
because these new rules are only rolling out in the United
States on a limited basis.

"Unfortunately, Facebook’s track record has been less than
fabulous, as their previous so-called improvements weren’t
necessarily rolled out to all users or applied consistently, and
many only work in the US (including those announced today!)," she
says. "Timing is also a huge issue as Facebook often 'tests' new
features for months. Just imagine what it would feel like
to be denied access to Facebook — to friends, to community
support, to professional communications — for a week, let alone a
year (as many have been)."

So while the changes are a step in the right direction, Lil Miss
Hot Mess doesn't think Facebook has completely solved the
problem:

"I’ll personally start celebrating once I stop getting messages
from people around the world who have been locked out of their
accounts."